Investment boost of £271m

TOURISM in Argyll and the Isles stands to benefit from investment of more than £271 million in infrastructure development projects over the next three years, VisitScotland has revealed.

The updated National Tourism Development Framework, first published in 2013, aims to highlight the importance of Scotland’s visitor economy.

It identifies projects - due to start or be completed over the next three years - covering all aspects of the visitor experience including digital, transport, accommodation, nature, heritage, towns and cities and events and festivals.

The total amount of investment across Scotland up to 2019 is estimated to be more than £16 billion.

The £271 million figure for Argyll and the Isles represents overall public and private sector investment in major infrastructure projects expected to impact the visitor economy and support tourism growth.

These include Argyll Lorn Arc (£144m), CHORD town centre regeneration (£30m), Dunoon Waterfront including Queens Hall refurbishment (£11m), Isle of Bute Pavilion community arts and sports hub (£11m), Bute Estate (£8m), Oban Bay and Harbour (£6.9m) and Helensburgh Esplanade (£6.7m).

VisitScotland research has found cars are the most popular mode of transport used by domestic visitors to Scotland.

On average, there were 8.2 million domestic trips to Scotland by car each year from 2006 up to 2014.

The use of trains to Scotland has increased since the economic downturn, with on average of 1.6 million domestic trips to Scotland each year up to 2014.

Digital investment worth £486 million is also outlined within the framework, including plans to deliver fibre broadband access to at least 95 per cent of premises in Scotland by the end of 2017.

Argyll and the Isles will benefit from £146 million which is being invested in superfast broadband across all Highlands and Islands Enterprise council areas - Argyll and Bute, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland, Orkney, Moray and Shetland.